LIZARD

LIZARD

14" high x 10" wide
acrylic on canvas

It was a pitch black night as the clouds furrowed the sky, concealing any stars or moon that was above, even though it was supposed to be a full moon tonight. I sat a the edge of my porch, on the top step, letting the dark envelop me, trying to calm myself and understand what had happened today.

It started like any other day, my going to work and sitting down behind my computer. But when I went to boot up, I got a message that I was not authorized on this computer. I tried to reach technical support but my phone was not working. As I sat there trying to figure out what was going on, two uniformed men, mammoth humans really, with muscles straining against their shirts, entered my cubicle and fairly picked me up by both arms and "escorted" me out of the building. They deposited me soundly on the sidewalk, never saying a word nor responding to my shouted questions or giving any explanation, bruising my hip when they dropped me. Of course, my ego was even more bruised. I was mortified as onlookers shook their heads or whispered behind cupped hands. I spent the day wandering the streets, dazed.

So the dark felt good as it wrapped its ghostly arms around me. Then, out of nowhere, appeared on my railing, a lizard. It was big, tremendous, the size of a house cat. And it was of the most remarkable colors---green, yes, but an electric green that vibrated next to red and blue, and so many colors. But most compelling was its eyes as he engaged me, I couldn't look away. As I gazed at him, a voice said "Come." I looked around then, as the lizard had not moved and my mind could not fathom that this creature could speak. But no one was there except us two. My voice squeaked "What?".  I heard the word "Come" again but this time I realized it had not been spoken out loud, but rather in my mind. The lizard jumped down. I followed.